I’m heading to Dubai next week and it reminded me I lost my trusty garment steamer on our big Europe trip. I have just ordered another because I simply cannot travel without it and it’s worth every dollar!
It’s a big statement, I know, but the Kambrook Swift Steam Garment Steamer is a bit of a life changer. OMG I am in love with it. And the good news is, it’s less than $50!
I’ve ALWAYS wanted one of those garment steamers but they tend to be bulky and pricey. I really hate ironing. And anything laundry-related in fact. In the division of labour at our house, laundry is Damian’s domain (he may not thank me for revealing that) but that doesn’t (sadly) include ironing. Where possible, I’ll avoid it. This includes ignoring plenty of lovely clean clothes in favour of others, made more appealing by the fact they either don’t need ironing (or I can get away with it). It makes for a limited wardrobe but luckily I work from home and wear a lot of jeans.
This garment steamer is amazing. I cannot fault it. You simply fill it with tap water to the fill line, plug it in, switch it on for a couple of minutes and it’s good to go. Then you simply hang the garmet from a hanger, pull it taut and brush the steamer over the garment, up and down, and it takes out the creases. It really does work, God damn it, and it’s so cheap! And easy!
So far it’s been trialed on business shirts, cotton, silk and synthetic tops and a wool coat (you know they get those annoying bunched up creases on the arms?) and it’s been fantastic. We reckon the only garments it isn’t ideal for are business shirts. Sure, it takes the creases out, but it’s not clever enough to put the creases you actually want back in. But thinking about it, that would be a very tall order! So yes, for that crisp work shirt, you still need an iron. But if you work somewhere where open neck shirts and jeans are acceptable, you could get away with it.
There’s something so liberating about not fighting with the ironing board of a morning. I plug the steamer in at bench height in the kitchen and hang the garment off a hanger hooked onto a cupboard door. I find the cord is more than long enough and it means I can rest the appliance on the bench top (it’s safe as it has a flat bottom to stand it upright) when I’m not using it. It’s so quick and easy though, I’m using it daily rather than doing a whole washload in one go (I’m still lazy and hate laundry, let’s not expect miracles). You can even use it to give something a freshen up, say if it’s been sitting at the back of the wardrobe a bit too long. I think it’s going to save me money on dry cleaning things that don’t really need dry cleaning. It’s lightweight and portable and I already fully intend to take it on holidays with me (since I first wrote this post it has been on numerous trips in my suitcase!).
Seriously ladies AND gents, you need this little beauty in your life. Thank you, Kambrook!
Available online from Bing Lee, Myer, Harvey Normanย and JB Hifi.
RRP $49.95. More information.
Comments
CAROLINE says
where can we buy this magnificence?
Jen Bishop says
Hi Caroline. Here’s a list of Kambrook stockists: http://www.kambrook.com.au/retailers
Ampersand Design says
I can’t wait to get this. I have a noname brand one from K-Mart. It is fantastic, but this one looks small enough to take travelling. It will be a God-send.
Sandy K
Lynda @HomeleaLass says
I’m a big avoider of ironing too (I wash, dry then hang) and I could see this invention could become loved in our home!
Cheers,
Lynda.
Laney | Crash Test Mummy says
Who do I give my $50 to? I’ve always wanted a steamer since working in Katies all those years ago, but theirs was the size of a vacuum cleaner! This looks awesome as I’m kind of allergic to irons!
Stephanie Goulstone says
I am still trying to find someone who stocks this item. have just been to all the recommended web sites, and it’s not there. I thought it would be – in time for Christmas! I called Kambrook when the steamer was first introduced, but they were unable to tell me who, if any of the retailers had actually ordered any from them.
Stephanie Goulstone says
I’ve just found one on e-bay. I wonder where they got it from!!
Carol says
I found one in Myers today and can’t wait to use it.
Jane says
do you think the steam is powerful enough to use on a wool blend coat in place of dry cleaning?
My husband likes to wear his fave winter coat to work most days which doesn’t leave much chance for dry cleaning. It can get a bit iffy around the armpit areas if he’s wearing it a few days a week, so I was thinking I could just steam clean it each night after wearing to freshen it up a bit and extend it’s wearability between dry cleaning or even instead of dry cleaning.
The coat is 67% wool, 26% polyester and 7% ‘other’ and is dry clean only.
Do you think this steamer will do the job?
Jen Bishop says
Definitely worth a try for the price I’d say!
Miss Sharon says
Can I just say that I am travelling through Europe as I write and with no irons provided anywhere we’ve stayed, this steamer has saved my style numerous times!
Jen Bishop says
Isn’t it the best?! Although I’ve found mine doesn’t work in America!